Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus

ABSTRACT

Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus suitable for use on a mobile unit and having a rotatable drum inside a stationary tank. The drum has apertured side walls and open ends so that cleaning fluids supplied to the tank are distributed throughout the articles being cleaned inside the rotating drum. A plurality of semi-circular arrays of elongated brushes are mounted inside the drum, with the articles to be cleaned being placed between adjacent series of brushes. Each series of brushes is fixed to the drum for rotation therewith and each individual brush within the series is independently rotatable relative to the drum. One end of each series of brushes is movable through a limited distance in the circumferential direction, so that the varying gravitational and centrifugal forces on the brushes, due to rotation of the drum, cause each brush series to reciprocate, thereby enhancing the cleaning action on the articles located between adjacent brush series. The brushes are also longitudinally movable relative to the drum so that they may be withdrawn from the drum through a door in the rear end of the stationary tank to facilitate placement of the articles to be cleaned between the brushes, and subsequent removal of the articles therefrom.

Elite States Patent [191 Shibata [451 June 5, 1973 [541 DRY CLEANING ANDLAUNDRY APPARATUS Masaji Shibata, 23, No. 30, Kamishima-cho, Kadoma,Japan 22 Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 211 Appl.No.:220,343

[76] Inventor:

745,658 12/1903 Perry et al. 15/3.2 X 790,834 /1905 Harvey /3.2 X1,063,841 6/1913 Stelter ..68/ 2,119,869 6/1938 Paxton l5/3.18 2,305,69512/1942 Hayes ..68/ 2,590,381 3/1952 Currie ..15/3.l6 UX FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 864,773 l/1953 Germany ..l5/3.l6

Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant EtaminerArthur 0. Henderson Attorhey-C. Frederick Leydig, Richard L. Voit, Y Edward W. Asann Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus suitable for use on amobile unit and having a rotatable drum inside a stationary tank. Thedrum has apertured side walls and open ends so that cleaning fluidssupplied to the tank are distributed throughout the articles beingcleaned inside the rotating drum. A plurality of semi-circular arrays ofelongated brushes are mounted inside the drum, with the articles to becleaned being placed between adjacent series of brushes. Each series ofbrushes is fixed to the drum for rotation therewith and each individualbrush within the series is independently rotatable relative to the drum.One end of each series of brushes is movable through a limited distancein the circumferential direction, so that the varying gravitational andcentrifugal forces on the brushes, due to rotation of the drum, causeeach brush series to reciprocate, thereby enhancing the cleaning actionon the articles located between adjacent brush series. The brushes arealso longitudinally movable relative to the drum so that they may bewithdrawn from the drum through a door in the rear end of the stationarytank to facilitate placement of the articles to be cleaned between thebrushes, and subsequent removal of the articles therefrom.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEDJUN 5 ms 3.736774 SHEET 0F 4 &

1 DRY CLEANING AND LAUNDRY APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to dry cleaning and laundry apparatus.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide improvedcleaning-equipment which can be used for both dry cleaning and laundry.

It is another object of the invention to provide such improved cleaningequipment which is suitable for use on mobile units.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved cleaningequipment of the foregoing type which provides improved cleaning action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved cleaningequipment of the type described above which is simple and economical tooperate and maintain.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such improved cleaningequipment which is particularly suitable for use in cleaning beddingmaterials such as mattresses and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description and upon reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile unit which includes cleaningequipment embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the rear portion of the equipmentof FIG. 1 with the door open and with fragments broken away to show theinternal structure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the cleaning equipment of FIG.1, with the outside housing and the end portions of the interior drumshown in section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear end elevation of the cleaning equipment ofFIG. 1 with the rear end plate of the cylindrical tank removed;

FIG. 5 is the same enlarged rear end elevation as in FIG. 4 with theentire cylindrical tank removed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the cleaningelements in the cleaning equipment of FIG. 1, with the lower cleaningelements partially withdrawn from the drum;

FIG. 7 is a schematic end elevation of the drum and cleaning elements inthe cleaning equipment of FIG. 1 in a first operative position;

FIG. 8 is a schematic end elevation of the drum and cleaning elements inthe cleaning equipment of FIG. 1 in a second operative position; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the fluid supply and discharge systemassociated with the cleaning equipment of FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended tolimit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, itis intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalentarrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Turning now to the drawings, and referring first to FIG. 1, a truck Thas cleaning equipment C embodying the present invention mounted on theback thereof to provide a mobile laundry and dry cleaning unit. Thecleaning equipment C includes an external cylindrical tank 1 containingan open-ended drum 2 mounted for rotation concentrically within the tank1 and forming an annular cavity 3 between the walls of the tank 1 andthe drum 2. More specifically, the drum 2 is fixed to and supported by alongitudinal shaft 10 which is journalled in a bearing assembly 15 onthe inside of the rear wall of the tank 1, and extends through the frontwall of the tank 1 where the front end 11 of the shaft isjournalled in afront bearing assembly 12. To permit the passage of fluids radiallythrough the drum 2, the walls 4 thereof are apertured at regularintervals as at 5, and the ends 6 and 7 of the drum are completely opento permit the passage of fluids axially therethrough.

For the purpose of rotating the drum 2 within the stationary tank 1, thefront end 11 of the shaft 10 is secured to a pulley 41 which is drivenvia belt 25 (FIG. 9) by a hydraulic motor 24. The hydraulic motor 24 inturn is supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump23 which is driven by a belt 42 connected to a main drive shaft 22powered by the truck engine.

In accordance with one important aspect of the present invention, aplurality of parallel series of brushes are mounted within the drum andspaced apart for holding articles to becleaned between the brushes, withthe brushes being rotatable with the drum and also individuallyrotatable relative to the drum. The brushes are also elongated in thedirection of the axis of rotation thereof and are longitudinally movablerelative to the drum so that the brushes may be withdrawn from the drumto facilitate the placement of the articles to be cleaned between thebrushes. Thus, in the illustrative arrangement, three parallel groups ofelongated brushes are arranged in concentric semi-circular series 51,52, and 53 in one half of the drum 2, and three similar parallel groupsof brushes are arranged in concentric semi-circular series 54, 55, and56 in the other half of the drum 2. The three series of brushes in eachhalf of the drum are spaced apart from each other so that the spacesbetween adjacent series of brushes can be used to hold the articles tobe cleaned. To permit rotation of the individual brushes within eachseries, such as the brushes 51a, 51b, 51c, etc. in brush series 51, eachof the individual brushes is journalled in two semicircular mountingbars 16 at opposite ends of the drum 2. For example, each of theindividual brushes within the series 51 is journalled in a pair ofsemi-circular mounting bars 16a at opposite ends of the drum 2.Similarly, the brushes in series 52- through 56 are journalled inmounting bars 16b through 16]: respectively. Thus, each of theindividual brushes is independently rotatable relative to the drum 2.

In addition to being rotatable relative to the drum, all of the brushesin the six series 51 through 56 are also rotated along with the drum 2.For this purpose, each of the semi-circular mounting bars 16a through16f for the six series of brushes are connected to two transversemounting bars 8 and 9 extending diametrically across the open front andrear ends, respectively, of the drum 2 and rigidly secured to thesidewalls of the drum 2. The two transverse bars 8 and 9 are secured tothe shaft 10 by means of a pair of hubs 8a and 9a, respectively. Thus,as the drum 2 is rotated within the tank 1, all of the longitudinallyelongated brushes in the six series 51 through 56 are rotated along withthe drum, while at the same time being free to rotate individuallyrelative to the drum.

In order to facilitate the insertion of articles to be cleaned into thesemi-circular spaces between adjacent brush series, and also tofacilitate subsequent removal of the articles from such spaces, each ofthe six brush series is mounted for sliding longitudinal movementrelative to the drum 2. Thus, as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 6,each of the six pairs of semi-circular mounting bars 16a through 16 fisconnected to a pair of longitudinal rods 18 and which interconnect thesemicircular mounting bars 16 associated with each brush series. Forexample, the pair of mounting bars 16a that carry the brush series 51are connected to a pair of Iongitudinal rods 18a and 20a which extendlongitudinally through the drum 2 to interconnect the two semicircularbars 16a. To permit longitudinal movement of the rods 18a and 20a, andthus of the entire brush series 51, relative to the drum 2, each of thelongitudinal rods 18 and 20 is telescoped within an elongated tubularmember 19 extending between and connected to the two transverse mountingbars 8 and 9. The open rear end of each tubular member 19 registers witha complementally formed opening in the rear mounting bar 9, and eachsuch opening also includes a slot 190 extending to one of the edges ofthe bar 9 so as to permit the connection between the semi-circularmounting bar 16 and the rod 18 or 20 to pass through the bar 9.Consequently, as illustrated in FIG. 6, any of the brush series 51-56can be withdrawn through the open rear end of the drum 2 when the reardoor 26 of the tank 1 is open, and when the brush series to be withdrawnis positioned in the lower half of the drum. As can be seen in FIG. 6,withdrawal of the brush series positioned in the upper half of the drumis blocked by the transverse mounting bar 14 which extends diametricallyacross the end of the tank '1 for supporting the bearing assembly 15. InFIG. 6 the two brush series 54 and 55 are shown partially withdrawn fromthe drum 2, and it canbe seen this exposes the space between the twobrush series to facilitate the placement of articles A to be cleanedtherein. After the placement of articles A between the brush series 54and 55, the brush series are then returned within the confines of thedrum 2, and after the cleaning operation has been completed they arewithdrawn again to facilitate removal of the cleaned articles.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, each of thesemi-circular brush series is also mounted for reciprocating movement inresponse to rotation of the drum 2 so that the individual brushes rotateback and forth against the surfaces of the articles to be cleaned toenhance the cleaning action. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 4-6, thetubular member 19 and the registered openings in the bars 8 and 9 at oneend of each pair of semi-circular series of brushes is circumferentiallyelongated so that the corresponding brushsupporting rod 20 is free toreciprocate back and forth through the distance H (FIG. 6). As the drum2 is rotated, the centrifugal forces acting on each brush series, aswell as the variation in gravitational forces acting on the brush seriesduring each drum rotation, causes each brush series to reciprocate backand forth at one end, thereby pivoting the brush series about its otherend, i.e., the end fixed to rod 18 which is not free to move in thecircumferential direction. The resulting reciprocating movement of thebrush series causes each individual brush in that series to move backand forth over a limited distance in both the circumferential and radialdirections. As the brushes are reciprocated, the surfaces of the brushesslide back and forth on the surfaces of the articles being cleaned,thereby causing rotation of the individual brushes relative to the drum2 and providing enhanced cleaning action.

As another specific feature of the invention, each pair of opposedparallel series of brushes is mounted so that the two opposed brushseries reciprocate in opposite directions in response to rotation of thedrum so that the individual brushes in each opposed pair of brush seriesrotate in opposite directions. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 4-8, thereciprocating or movable end of each brush series 51-56 is locatedadjacent a fixed end of the next adjacent brush series. For example, themovable end of brush series 51 connected to rod 200 is located adjacentthe fixed end of the opposed brush series 52 connected to rod 18b, andconversely the movable end of brush series 52 connectedto rod 20b islocated adjacent the fixed end of the opposed brush series 51 connectedto rod 18a. Accordingly, when the brush series 52 moves from the inboardposition illustrated in FIG. 7 to the outboard position illustrated inFIG. 8, the individual brushes rotate relative to the drum 2 and rubagainst the articles being cleaned, thereby improving the scrubbingaction on the articles positioned between the two brush series 51 and52. As the drum 2 continues to rotate, the brushes in series 51 undergothe same effect, as do the brushes in all the other series 53-56.

As mentioned previously, the cleaning apparatus provided by thisinvention is suitable for use for both dry cleaning and laundry.Accordingly, the fluid system associated with the tank 1 and drum 2 isadapted to supply selected dry cleaning or laundry fluids to theinterior of the drum 2, and to remove the same therefrom. This fluidsystem is shown in FIG. 9, and includes a tank 29 containing drycleaning solvent which is supplied to the interior of the tank 1 througha line 70, being conducted by compressed air from a compresser 30.Inside the tank 1, the dry cleaning solvent is discharged throughapertures formed in an internal extension of the pipe (see FIG. 3) sothat the solvent is sprayed into the open front end of the drum 2. Thesolvent spray is drawn longitudinally through the interior of the drum 2by means of a vacuum pump 35 connected to an exhaust line 350 at therear end of the tank 1.

For dry cleaning applications where the solvent spray is not preferred,a second tank 28 contains dry cleaning solvent which is conductedthrough a pipe 71 and discharged into the top of the tank 1 when a valve33 in the pipe 71 is open. This solvent flows downwardly through thedrum 2 and out through a drain line 72 positioned near the rear end ofthe tank 1. Thus the dry cleaning solvent must flow from the top of thefront end of the tank 1 to the bottom of the rear end thereof, and inthe process the solvent is distributed throughout the articles beingcleaned by the rotating drum 2 and the cleaning elements containedtherein. When the tank 32 is not in use, the valve 33 in the pipe 71 anda second valve 34 in the drainline 72 are closed.

In order to use the equipment for laundry, a valve 31 in a line 73 isopened to discharge water from a tank 28 into the top of the tank 1 atthe top of the front end thereof. The valve 34 in the drainline 77 isopened so that the water flows longitudinally from the front to the rearof the housing 1, being distributed throughout the articles beinglaundered by the rotating drum 2 in the process. The cleanser ordetergent to be used in the laundry process is fed into the tank 1through a port 39 having a hinged lid 40. After the washing cycle of thelaundry operation is completed, and all the water has been drained fromthe tank 1, a blower 37 is turned on so as to draw warm air through aheater 36 and on through a pipe 38 into the front end of the housing 1.This warm air passes longitudinally through the drum and is withdrawnthrough line 35a by the vacuum pump 35. This circulation of warm airthrough the drum dries the laundered articles therein, and it isnormally desirable to leave the port 39 open during the drying operationfor exhausting steam from the interior of the drum 2.

As can be seen from the foregoing detailed description, this inventionprovides improved cleaning equipment which can be used for both drycleaning and laundry, and which is very suitable for use on mobileunits. Due to the unique arrangement of cleaning brushes, an improvedcleaning action is provided automatically as the drum is rotated. Thisequipment is particularly suitable for use in cleaning bedding materialssuch as mattresses and the like, and is simple and economical to operateand maintain.

I claim as my invention:

1. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus comprising the combination of aliquid-tight tank, a drum rotatably mounted in said tank and havingapertured side walls for passing cleaning fluids therethrough, means forsupplying selected fluids to the interior of said tank, means fordischarging fluids from the interior of said tank, and at least twosubstantially parallel series of brushes mounted within said drum andspaced apart for holding articles to be cleaned between the two seriesof brushes, said brushes being rotatable with said drum and alsoindividually rotatable relative to said drum, said brushes also beingelongated in the direction of the axis of rotation thereof andlongitudinally movable relative to said drum whereby said brushes may bewithdrawn from drum to facilitate the placement of articles to becleaned between said series of brushes.

2. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid brushes are arranged in at least two pairs of semicircular series.

3. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid series of brushes are mounted for reciprocating movement inresponse to rotation of said drum so that the individual brushes rotateagainst the surfaces of the articles to be cleaned to enhance thecleaning action.

4. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 3 whereineach pair of opposed parallel series of brushes is mounted so that thetwo opposed series of brushes reciprocate in opposite directions inresponse to rotation of said drum whereby the individual brushes in eachopposed pair of series rotate in opposite directions.

5. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 3 whereineach pair of opposed parallel series of brushes is mounted so that eachseries of brushes reciprocates back and forth through a limited distancein both the circumferential and radial directions.

6. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid brushes are arranged in curved series substantially concentric withsaid drum and at least one end of each series is mounted for limitedreciprocating movement whereby each brush series is automaticallyreciprocated in response to rotation of said drum.

7. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 6 whereineach brush series is mounted for reciprocating movement at only one endopposite from the reciprocating end of each opposed parallel brushseries.

8. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whichincludes means for supplying cleaning fluids to said tank and forconducting said cleaning fluids both axially and radially through saiddrum.

9. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 8 whichincludes means for conducting heated air through said drum for dryingthe cleaned articles after the discharge of said cleaning fluids fromsaid tank.

1. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus comprising the combination of aliquid-tight tank, a drum rotatably mounted in said tank and havingapertured side walls for passing cleaning fluids therethrough, means forsupplying selected fluids to the interior of said tank, means fordischarging fluids from the interior of said tank, and at least twosubstantially parallel series of brushes mounted within said drum andspaced apart for holding articles to be cleaned between the two seriesof brushes, said brushes being rotatable with said drum and alsoindividually rotatable relative to said drum, said brushes also beingelongated in the direction of the axis of rotation thereof andlongitudinally movable relative to said drum whereby said brushes may bewithdrawn from drum to facilitate the placement of articles to becleaned between said series of brushes.
 2. Dry cleaning and laundryapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said brushes are arranged inat least two pairs of semicircular series.
 3. Dry cleaning and laundryapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said series of brushes aremounted for reciprocating movement in response to rotation of said drumso that the individual brushes rotate against the surfaces of thearticles to be cleaned to enhance the cleaning action.
 4. Dry cleaningand laundry apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each pair ofopposed parallel series of brushes is mounted so that the two opposedseries of brushes reciprocate in opposite directions in response torotation of said drum whereby the individual brushes in each opposedpair of series rotate in opposite directions.
 5. Dry cleaning andlaundry apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each pair of opposedparallel series of brushes is mounted so that each series of brushesreciprocates back and forth through a limited distance in both thecircumferential and radial directions.
 6. Dry cleaning and laundryapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said brushes are arranged incurved series substantially concentric with said drum and at least oneend of each series is mounted for limited reciprocating movement wherebyeach brush series is automatically reciprocated in response to rotationof said drum.
 7. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as set forth inclaim 6 wherein each brush series is mounted for reciprocating movementat only one end opposite from the reciprocating end of each opposedparallel brush series.
 8. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as setforth in claim 1 which includes means for supplying cleaning fluids tosaid tank and for conducting said cleaning fluids both axially andradially through said drum.
 9. Dry cleaning and laundry apparatus as setforth in claim 8 which includes means for conducting heated air throughsaid drum for drying the cleaned articles after the discharge of saidcleaning fluids from said tank.